Philippians 3:17- 4:1

Philippians 3:17- 4:1Our lowly bodies will be changed to conform with his glorified body.

Copyrighted material that appears in this article is included under the provisions of the Fair Use Clause of the National Copyright Act, which allows limited reproduction of copyrighted materials for educational and religious use when no financial charge is made for viewing. Catholic Lectionary. (2009). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

1

17 Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers, and observe those who thus conduct themselves according to the model you have in us.18 For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ.19 Their end is destruction. Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. Their minds are occupied with earthly things.20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.21 He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself.4:1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved.

In this reading we hear Paul challenge the Philippians to become Christ like by following Pauls example.In Philippians 3:12 he said, he wasnt perfect but that he was striving for perfection.Think about the tremendous burden Paul placed on himself.People would watch his every move, examine his speech and be critical of his perceived imperfections.Could we be Christ like, every minute of every day without any failures in our human nature?I think not.Paul goes on to criticize self-indulgent Christians who profess the faith but fail to live the faith by word and example.These are people care about satisfying their own needs before caring about the needs of others.

In verses 20-21 we read, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body,Paul sheds more light on this concept in 2 Cor. 5:1-4.1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 Here indeed we groan, and long to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 so that by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we sigh with anxiety; not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

(148)